Skin Tags

[Dr Steve]

noticed a few skin tags on my shoulder. What are they? Thanks.


Skin tags (if they are skin tags...make sure you verify this with your health care provider) are little benign outgrowths of normal skin. They usually have a stalk with a small blood supply. They're often found on the neck and underarms, but can appear anywhere (other than the scalp, it seems). The medical term is "achrochordon" (because we have to have a different word for everything.)

These are "acquired", meaning that they are not usually present at birth, and usually develop in adulthood.

They're easily removed by a health care provider by simply snipping them off with a really sharp pair of surgical scissors. This usually causes no pain, and the resulting wound usually heals without a scar. The only reason to remove them is cosmetic...if you have a million of them on your neck they just look nasty.

My record is 123 skin tags removed in one sitting. I used to joke that you could fry them up and make "cracklin' bread". My old country folk patients (who knew that cracklin' bread was made with pork skin and white bread dough) actually found that funny, which says a lot about my practice. It grossed my nurse out so much that she puked so I stopped mentioning it during surgery.


your pal,


steve

[HBox]

Skin tags (if they are skin tags...make sure you verify this with your health care provider) are little benign outgrowths of normal skin. They usually have a stalk with a small blood supply. They're often found on the neck and underarms, but can appear anywhere (other than the scalp, it seems). The medical term is "achrochordon" (because we have to have a different word for everything.)

I have one on my scalp.

[Tall_James]

I used to joke that you could fry them up and make "cracklin' bread". My old country folk patients (who knew that cracklin' bread was made with pork skin and white bread dough) actually found that funny, which says a lot about my practice.

How many chickens was your co-pay?

[TooLowBrow]

I used to joke that you could fry them up and make "cracklin' bread".
That's grosser than having someone wave their hands over your chicken fingers.

[Jennitalia]

one of my cats has a few all over him. around his head and upper body

[jauble]

How many chickens was your co-pay?

quite funny

[joethebartender]

one of my cats has a few all over him. around his head and upper body

Those are ticks.:wacko:

[DolaMight]

tag, you're it. By it I mean get ready for bizzare body outgrowths.

[Midkiff]

I have gotten a couple in my pits. I hear they may be cause by the aluminum crap in antiperspirant.

[PapaBear]

I have gotten a couple in my pits. I hear they may be cause by the aluminum crap in antiperspirant.
I've heard the same thing about Alzheimer's disease for decades.

[Fallon]

I had a small one in my underarm. I cut it off with nail clippers.

Fucking hurt.

[Dr Steve]

I have one on my scalp.

I swear that's pretty unusual; they usually occur where there's loose skin. Unless your scalp is all loose and foldy...


...of course, they can occur anywhere. Can you take a picture of it and post it?

[HBox]

I swear that's pretty unusual; they usually occur where there's loose skin. Unless your scalp is all loose and foldy...


...of course, they can occur anywhere. Can you take a picture of it and post it?

After many futile attempts of trying to take a picture of a small portion of the back of my head, you shall all must wait until tomorrow until I can have someone else take a picture of it.

My apologies for making everyone wait to see pics of my scalp skin tag.

[HBox]

Ok, it turns out I actually got a good shot of it. It's quite disgusting looking. I've never seen the thing, and now I think it probably isn't a skin tag. So, what is it?

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7814/dscn0131ae0.jpg

[Chris from TX]

I had a small one in my underarm. I cut it off with nail clippers.

Fucking hurt.

I cut one off my eyelid that way. Not gonna try self surgery with my milia, though

[jauble]

Ok, it turns out I actually got a good shot of it. It's quite disgusting looking. I've never seen the thing, and now I think it probably isn't a skin tag. So, what is it?

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7814/dscn0131ae0.jpg

dorsal fin?

[TooLowBrow]

Ok, it turns out I actually got a good shot of it. It's quite disgusting looking. I've never seen the thing, and now I think it probably isn't a skin tag. So, what is it?

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7814/dscn0131ae0.jpg

that's John McCain!!!

[Midkiff]

I've heard the same thing about Alzheimer's disease for decades.

Are you serious? Dr. Steve, any input? If this is true, I will stop using it and begin stinking immediately. Fuck smelling good if it means I get Alzheimer's.

[Jennitalia]

Those are ticks.:wacko:

i know what ticks are. my cat hasnt been outside in 5 years. these arent ticks.

[angrymissy]

I used to joke that you could fry them up and make "cracklin' bread".

:glurps::surrender:

[Dr Steve]

Ok, it turns out I actually got a good shot of it. It's quite disgusting looking. I've never seen the thing, and now I think it probably isn't a skin tag. So, what is it?

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7814/dscn0131ae0.jpg


...which is why I wanted to see a picture of it!

What it is is hard to tell from the picture, but I'd get it looked at by a health care provider. There's a real difference in trying to figure out a skin thing by photograph vs seeing it "live".

It may be worth getting it removed to see what it really is. Let us know what they say!

your pal,


steve

[Dr Steve]

:glurps::surrender:

Yeah, thinking back on it, besides being gross, I'm pretty sure it's Traif.

[Death Metal Moe]

Dr. Steve, do you find them to be more common on obese people? Just curious because it seems I see them more on obese people.

[Dr Steve]

Dr. Steve, do you find them to be more common on obese people? Just curious because it seems I see them more on obese people.

You are correct sir...they do tend to be associated with obesity and also with impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes or diabetes).

Another skin condition that affects overweight people with diabetes is a thing called acanthosis nigracans. Just a fun fact. And here's what that looks like:

http://images.medscape.com/images/564/201/art-edm564201.fig1.jpg